parenting seminar for satact

8/9/2019 Parenting Seminar for SATACT

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Parenting Seminar forSAT/ACT


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Outline

Introduction to standardized testing

What is the ACTRelation to college

What is the SATRelation to college

How to improve scores

Test Dates


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Why standardized testing?

Colleges want to know what type of

student they are receiving

High-stakes funding and support

Not all schools are created equalThis places the burden on the student

Allows colleges to fairly compare

students on a standardized basis


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How they are designed

The tests are designed in a way that the "questions,

conditions for administering, scoring procedures,

and interpretations are consistent Further, they are to be "administered and scored in

a predetermined, standard manner.

It is assumed a score stays consistent across

testing dates


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What they seek to find College Readiness Indicators

A standard for students on an achievement

scale

A way to know if the GPA of students reflectstheir academic/ reasoning abilities

A process with which all students are testedequal


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Do grades matter? With all of this focus on testing, testing,

and more testing, the question remains,do grades and everything else matter?

The short answer: YES!!!!!!!!!

But why?Grades are a major indicator of academic

abilityMore importantly, showcases a willingness to

continually learn


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Can standardized scores assist

student with low GPAs? Absolutely! - My college roommate

This process is not a two-way street.A high GPA but low test score will leave

colleges questioning the difficulty of the school (not the students willingness to do well)

A low GPA but high test score will show collegesa clear academic ability (but not necessarily a willingness to stick with

education)


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What is the ACT?

The American College Testing Programs

standardized aptitude test (1959)

Changed in 1996 to simply, ACT

Evaluates:

College ReadinessCurrent level of knowledge related to academics

(What students know)


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Breakdown of the ACT

Subjects covered:English 75 multiple-choice

Math 60 multiple-choice

Reading 40 multiple-choice

Science 40 multiple-choice

Writing (optional)


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Tips and Tricks of the ACT

English pretty much a reg. English testKnow grammar

Correct what you know

Temporarily skip difficult Qs

Math the first 30 Qs are the easiest

The second 30 are more difficultWhen going through the second 30, SKIP a Q

you dont know how to do and move on


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Tips and Tricks cont.

Reading answer the question they will

be tricky and give additional info

Answer what you know to be the answer

Science Asks for data interpretation

Read the graphs carefully

DO NOT assume you know from school


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Tips and Tricks cont.

Writing 30 minutes (not much time)

Read the topic and build an outline in your head

Quickly write a brief outline and have a patternBuild your essay from there

Include: ideas that show topic understanding Clear and logical viewpoints DO NOT SKIP AROUND

Clarity and development are key not structure


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Tips and Tricks In general:Answer questions you know first

Always go back and at least guess on the others

There is no penalty for a wrong answer on the

ACT

Do not:Leave a question blank, you have a 25% chance

of getting it right

Make fun designs with the remaining questions

Answer under 1 column, B


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ACT - College

Scores are reported by test date

Can choose to submit one or another test

date

If with writing, both primary and writing are

submitted if you request it to be sent


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What is the SAT?

Created by the College Board in 1901

Initially stood for Scholastic Aptitude Test

Changed to just SAT at a later date

Now known as:

SAT 1 or SAT Reasoning TestSAT 2 or SAT Subject Tests


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Breakdown of the SAT

Critical Reading 70 minutes

Mathematics 70 minutes

Writing (Writing) 25 minutes Writing (MC) 35 minutes (25 + 10)


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Tips and Tricks of the SAT:

Critical Reading 5 question types Details Specific answers taken directly from

the text

Vocabulary BE CAREFUL HERE!!!

Writers will use words with multiple definitions Ex: transparent, consult, leaves

Tone Ask for a writers attitudeSteer clear of strong tones

Use process of elimination (POE)


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Tips and Tricks:

Critical Reading Implications Perceived as most difficult

What is the author inferring with regards to what

he or she is saying?Be careful with P.O.E.

Main Idea What is the paragraph about?

A big struggle for studentsThis is difficult, as students are pressed for time,

and will want to find the FIRST idea around


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Tips and Tricks: Math Concepts coveredNumber and operations Beginning concepts

Algebra and functions Getting difficult

Geometry and measurement Oh boy for some

Data analysis, stats, probability Run for the hills

Tips: ANSWER QUESTIONS YOU CAN!!!!

Get close? Remember, they figured out your

wrong answers

Lucky for students, harder Qs = less often


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Tips and Tricks: Writing 25 minute timed writing Rated 1 - 6Read the question and background info

While reading, develop your point of view

Jot down your BRIEF outline

There is no format to follow

STICK WITH THE TOPIC!

Draw in outside ideas (but citation) Ex: As Freud suggests

Think Critically dont be afraid to be different


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Tips and Tricks: Writing 35 minute multiple choice Improving sentences 25 Qs

Identifying sentence errors 18 Qs

Improving paragraphs 6 Qs

Can a student critically analyze?

Do they know how to improve upon ideas?

Recognize grammar and sentence-

structure errors

Know transition words!! Edit essays!!


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Tips and Tricks: SAT in General Always answer the questions you know

If you have no idea, DO NOT answer the question

Play the odds assume each question = 1 point

Wrong answer = -1/4 point (-25%)

Ifyou know 1 answer is wrong, there is a 1/3rd chance

of getting it correct (+33%), 2 = (+50%)

Play the odds and GUESS


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SAT College ALL scores are submitted regardless of test date

This is different from the ACTALL SAT 1 and SAT 2s are submitted

Cal State Use the highest score from each curriculumarea (Reading, Writing, Math)

Allows you to combine scores from multiple tests

University of California The highest combinedscoreAll scores are sent though, so they see everything

Private Schools Varying, tend to lean toward UC


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How to Prepare: both tests PRACTICE!!!!But make practice perfect

If you practice something 80 times, you will

be not better off on the 80th than on your 1st. If

you do perfect practice 80 times, each

practice will show improvement. Mr. J

What does this mean?Analyze what you did wrong, see where you

can improve, and where you can worry less


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How to Prepare Utilize testing aides.

Get a CollegeBoard.com user accountQuestion of the day

Read difficult novelsThe biggest discrepancy between their

generation and even 10 years ago is language

Why? look at what they are given in life Take challenging classes in school

Play to your strengths


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Todays Question of the Day


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Final Words The ability to take a standardized test is

important from the months of March of theirjunior year through December of their senior

year This ability does not determine future

success

If as a family you plan ahead, and take thenecessary steps, you will meet the goals.

parenting seminar for satact

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